Pastor’s Corner: “Where Are You Anchored?”
Hebrews 6:17-19 (NIV) – 17 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. 18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,
Many times I’ve heard people say, “My situation is hopeless.” They feel as if they’re looking down a long, dark tunnel with no way out. In the chaotic and unpredictable world that we live in today, this feeling of hopelessness is growing in our society, especially among our youth. This hopelessness turns into despair and to escape, many see the only way out is to take their own lives. But this is a lie and a deception, the work of the enemy (he prowls around looking to kill steal and destroy). No matter what we may face in life or how we feel, we have a promised hope because God is not a liar!
For those of us who believe in Jesus Christ and have been born of His Spirit, there is no such thing as a hopeless situation! Although we experience pain, difficulties, and confusion, we have an anchor of hope that keeps us from drifting into despair. Although the early Christians suffered much persecution, they endured with hope. Archeologists have found 66 different types of anchors etched on the walls of the catacombs where Roman believers used to worship. They were worshiping in catacombs because they were persecuted for their faith and belief in Jesus. Every day they were facing the possibility of death because of their faith, yet they lived joyful and love filled lives despite their hopeless situation. Their hope was not anchored in their circumstances.
When you think of ships, whether you’re thinking of the Titanic, pirate ships, or trading vessels crossing the vast ocean, you probably picture them with an anchor. It is made of heavy metal fashioned into a hook designed to catch on the ocean floor and keep a boat or ship in place. Wikipedia says this about anchors: There are two main types of anchors: temporary and permanent. A permanent anchor is called a mooring block and is not easily moved. A temporary anchor can be moved and is carried on the boat.
When people talk about anchors, they are usually thinking about temporary anchors. Hebrews 6:19 says, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” When you think about your personal relationship with Jesus Christ, what kind of anchor binds you to your Lord and Savior? Is it a permanent anchor — not easily moved? Or is it a temporary anchor, dependent more on where you want to steer the ship, carried aboard your boat until you feel like a temporary stop?
God wants the hope we’ve found in Jesus to be a permanent fixture in our lives; our faith is meant to hold us steady and secure as we follow Him, being a constant source of reassurance in every circumstance — not a temporary stopping place.
Unless anchors are dropped into the sea, they are useless. In the same way, we must take hold of the hope God has provided and use it as our source of stability. When we focus on our troubles, we are tossed about without a firm foundation. But when we concentrate on God’s character and promises, we’ll remember that He always works situations out for our good—even when we don’t understand how. So whether we’re facing an uncertain outcome or a situation we can’t change, knowing God is faithful allows us to stand firm.
In His Grace,
Pastor Hamilton